Cops and Courts: Jan. 25, 2013

A 42-year-old handyman was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl at her home in Aromas.

A girl called 911 about 12:35 p.m. to report that she had been attacked by Isidro Fuentes, said San Benito County Sheriff's Sgt. Tony Lamonica.

Fuentes had visited her home to do handyman work, then left.

Monterey County sheriff's deputies found Fuentes later Tuesday at his home on Long Valley Road in Castroville.

He was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault and annoying or molesting a minor, deputies said. Fuentes was held in San Benito County Jail.

San Benito County sheriff's deputies continue to investigate, Lamonica said. Fuentes had been a friend of the girl's family for about eight years.

He visited many homes as a handyman, and deputies are seeking more information about him.

The San Benito County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information to call 831-636-4080 or the tip line at 831-636-4084.

SANTA CRUZ

Police chief takes down man with gun

Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel apprehended an armed man who has the same name as the former city mayor Thursday morning.

Vogel was driving in a patrol car when reports came in that a man had threatened to shoot employees at the New Leaf grocery store on Pacific Avenue. The man apparently had gotten into an argument with employees there and then made the threat, Deputy Chief Steve Clark said.

Vogel circled the area, looking for a man matching the suspect's description. He spotted him leaving the Trader Joe's on Front Street and took him into custody.

The man had a loaded .32-caliber handgun in his possession. His name? Donald Foltz Lane.

Lane, 63, was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and illegally carrying a concealed weapon. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail.

SANTA CRUZ

Trial date set for Winston Churchill

A man by the name of Winston Arthur Churchill is slated for trial March 18 on allegations that he attacked a Santa Cruz coffee shop employee and a customer.

Churchill, 47, was held to answer on charges of assault, trespassing and battery at a preliminary hearing earlier this month. He has pleaded not guilty.

Churchill, who is in custody at Santa Cruz County Jail, did not attend Thursday's court appearance to set a trial date. A March 18 date was set in absentia.

Judge Timothy Volkmann noted that Churchill was refusing to come to court Thursday morning, and remarked that he had been advised that "bringing him to court will be challenging at best."

Police arrested Churchill on Dec. 23 after he allegedly tried to choke an employee at Verve Coffee Roasters after he was asked to leave and refused. They say he then head-butted a customer who tried to intervene. The day before, he had been arrested after twice refusing to leave the Pacific Avenue cafe and causing a disturbance.

SUMMIT

Woman rescued on mountain trail

Authorities rescued a 20-year-old woman who was injured while hiking at Castle Rock State Park on Thursday afternoon.

The woman called 911 at 4:40 p.m., saying she was injured on the Saratoga Gap trail more than a mile inside the park. It was unclear how she was injured, said Cal Fire Capt. Ron Michaelsen.

Authorities reached the woman, who had minor injuries and was with another hiker. They helped her walk out of the park by about 5:45 p.m.

The woman planned to take a private car to a hospital rather than an ambulance, Michaelsen said. State Parks rangers and Cal Fire responded to the call.